Adjusting mechanism for the retaining springs of safety ski bindings

ABSTRACT

An adjusting mechanism for the retaining springs of safety ski bindings which use a spring abutment adjustable by a rotatable member and include means for changing the adjusting range adjustable by the skier; the rotatable member thereby carries or includes an adjustable abutment member adjustable within an adjusting range limited by counter-abutments relative to a support member while the abutment member together with the rotatable member or a counter-abutment member carrying the counter-abutments together with the support member is adjustable by normally inaccessible, additional adjusting means; the spring abutment secured against rotation relative to the support member is axially displaceably arranged by means of a thread provided on the rotatable member which itself is secured against axial rotation.

nited States Patent. i 1

Sittmann May 28, I974 [54] ADJUSTING MECHANISM FOR THE 3,682,494 8/1972 Frisch 280/1135 T RETAINING SPRINGS OF SAFETY SKI BINDINGS Primary Examiner--Robert R. Song [75] Inventor: Brigitte Smmann, Stuttgart Attorney, Agent, or hrm-Cra1g and Antonelli Germany [73] Assignee: Vereinigte Baubeschlagfabriker ABSTRACT Gretsch & GmbH Leonberg An adjusting mechanism for the retaining springs of Germany safety ski bindings which use a spring abutment adjust- 221 Filed; Jam 19 1973 able by a rotatable member and include means for changing the adjusting range adjustable by the skier; [21] Appllo-1325361 the rotatable member thereby carries or includes an adjustable abutment member adjustable within an ad- 301 i n Application p i i Data justing range limited by counter-abutments relative to Jan 20 1972 German 2202541 a support member while the abutment member to- 1 gether with the rotatable member or a counter- [52] U S V 280/ 35 T abutment member carrying the counterabutments to- [5 H In} .0 A63c.9/00 gether with the pp member is adjustable y OF [58] Fie'ld "5 1 35 T mally inaccessible, additional adjusting means; the spring abutment secured against rotation relative to he support member is axially displaceably arranged [56] References Cited t v by means of a thread provided on the rotatable mem- UNITED STATES PATENTS ber which itself is secured against axial rotation. 3,544,124 12/1970 Beyl 280/] L35 T 3,638,959 2/1972 Reuge 280/1135 T 29 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures ADJUSTING MECHANISM FOR THE RETAINING SPRINGS OF SAFETY SKI BINDINGS The present inventionrelates to an adjusting mechanism for the retaining springs of safety ski bindings with the use of a spring abutment adjustable by a rotary member which ispreferably connected with indicating means for the adjustedspring stress, and with means for changing the adjusting range, within which adjustments can be made by the skier.

The present invention is concerned above all with the task to provide a particularly reliable device which is safeguarded against any unauthorized adjustment of the range. Furthermore, the present invention aims at a device which can be actuated in .a simple manner and additionally requires relatively :little space.

Accordingly, the present invention essentially consists in that the actuating member carries or includes an abutment member which is adjustable by the skier with respect to a support member within an adjusting range limited by counter abutments, in that the abutment member is adjustable together with the rotatable member or a counter abutment member carrying the counter-abutments is adjustabletogether with the support member by (normally) inaccessible, additional adjusting means, and in that furthermore the spring abutment secured against rotation relative to the support member is axially displaceably arranged by means of a thread on the rotatable member, itself secured against axial displacement.

Preferably, the abutment member is connected with the rotatable member by teeth forming the additional adjusting means. Such a toothed arrangement enables a nearly continuous adjustment of the adjusting range with a corresponding fineness and precision notwithstanding great safety against an unauthorized or also against a forcible rotation.

,A spatially particularly favorable arrangement results if the abutment member and counter-abutment member are arranged axially adjacent one another and by means of one or several projections arranged at one of the members engage axially into an aperture or recess at the other member thereof. The abutment member may thereby be-constructed disk-shaped, for example, in-such a manner that a tab or lug bent out of the disk plane serves as abutment. In lieu of a lug or tab, however, also a pin or the like may be provided.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an adjusting mechanism for the retaining springs of safety ski bindings which avoids by simple means the aforementioned shortcomings and drawbacks encountered in the prior art.

Another object of the present invention resides in an adjusting mechanism for the retaining springs of safety ski bindings which assures a high degree of safety against unauthorized adjustment of the adjusting range permitting individual adjustments by the skier.

A further object of the present invention resides in an adjusting mechanism for the retaining springs of safety ski bindings which can be actuated in a simple manner, not only by the skier in order to make the necessary adjustments within a given range, but also by the installing personnel presetting the preselected adjusting range.

Still a further object of the present invention resides in an adjusting mechanism for the retaining spring system of safety ski bindings which requires relatively little space and thus permits a compact construction.

A still further objectof the present invention resides in an adjusting device of the aforementioned type which assures great reliability in operation and safety against unauthorized adjustments yet preserves the possibility of fine adjustments by the individual skier to suit his personal needs or preferences. I

These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing which shows, for purposes of illustration only, two embodiments in accordance with the present invention, and wherein:

FIG. I is a side view of a front jaw of a safety ski binding in accordance with the present invention, partially in cross section, taken along line l-l of FIG. 3;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 22 of FIG. 1;

F IG.3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a special construction for an abutment member used in the present invention.

v Referring now to the drawing wherein like reference numerals are used throughout the various views to designate like parts, reference numeral 10 designates in FIG. 1 a ski with which the safety binding of the present invention is used. The pivot bolt 12 which is fixedly flangedly connected with the ski 10 by the base plate support of the ski boot. Furthermore, the front jaw 13 may be adjustable in its height on the pivot bolt 12, i.e., in the vertical'direction, for example, by means of a screw 16 extending axially through the pivot bolt 12.

The pivot bolt 12 has a groove 17 V-shaped in cross section, into which engages in a conventional manner a detent member 18, for example, a roller or ball which is guided by a slide member 19, for example, a pistonlike slide member 19. The slide member 19 serves as spring abutment for the two springs 20 and 21 which are accommodated within the cylindrical hollow space 22 of the front jaw 13 and which are supported with the ends thereof opposite the slide member 19 at the front jaw 13 in the manner to be described more fully hereinafter by way of a closure mechanism generally designated by reference numeral 23 which closes off the hollow space 22 against the outside and simultaneously forms the adjusting mechanism for the spring tension of the spring 20.

This closure and adjusting mechanism 23 includes as its actuating member a rotatable or turnable member 24 in the form of an adjusting screw which includes a head portion 24a provided with a slot for the insertion of a tool to assist in turning the member 24, a threaded portion 24b provided with a thread and projecting into the hollow space 22 and a central collar 25. The rotatable member 24 is spring-loaded by the springs 20 and 21 at its collar 25 which, in its turn, is supported against a closure or abutment member 23a, for example, by interposition of a washer 26; the closure or support member 23a is rigidly connected or adapted to be connected with the support member constituted by the front jaw 13 in any suitable manner, for example, by a threaded connection or by radially or axially arranged screws or the like.

A spring abutment 28 is adjustably arranged by screw action on the thread 27 of the threaded portion 24b of the rotatable member 24. The spring abutment 28 serves for the support of the outer spring 20 and includes an extension 29 which engages into a longitudinal groove 30 of the support part 13 forming essentially the front jaw and thereby secures the spring abutment 28 against rotation with respect to the support member 13. The support of the outer spring 20 at the spring abutment 28 takes place under interposition of an indicating disk 31 which is provided with a pointer 32 that is located in front of a recess or aperture 33 on the top side of the support member 13.

The pointer 32 may also include a marking; for example, the end of the pointer 32.may also serve as such marking and may cooperate with a scale or other marking at the aperture or recess 33 on the top side of the support member 13.

A disk is riveted onto the end of the rotatable member 24 projecting into the hollow space 22, which serves as abutment for the stroke limitation of the spring abutment 28 adapted to be screwed on the thread 27 so that the spring abutment 28 can carry out altogether a stroke or travel H for the adjustment of the spring stress or spring tension of the outer spring 20. Furthermore, a spring plate 36 is supported on the rounded-off end 35 of the rotatable member 24 which, in its turn, serves for the support of the inner spring 21.

The head portion 24a of the rotatable member 24 is provided externally thereof with serrations 37, over which is mounted or slipped a ring-shaped abutment member 38 by means of corresponding internal serrations, which abutment member 38 may serve simultaneously as handle or actuating member. A springy ring 39 secures the abutment member 38 against axial displacement on the rotatable member 24.

The abutment member 38 includes an axial pin 40 which engages into a recess or aperture 41 of the closure member 23a serving as counter-abutment. The recess 41 extends thereby over nearly 360 in the circumferential direction thereof but is limited by an inwardly projecting extension 42 whose lateral surfaces 43 and 44 serve as counter-abutments for the abutment 40 constructed as pin.

In the condition ofthe front support mechanism illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, the spring abutment 28 is screwed on the thread 27 of the rotatable member 24 so far that it abuts closely at the collar 25 thereof. It is assumed that in this condition, the ring-shaped abutment member 38 is mounted over the head portion 24a of the rotatable member 24 by means of the serrations 37, for example, corresponding to FIG. 2 in such a manner that its abutment pin 40 is in the center position m on the inside of the recess 41. Ifthe spring abutment 28 is to be adjusted by the skier in order to obtain a different spring stress of the outer spring 20, then the rotatable member 24 is rotated for example manually by means of the abutment member 38 or by means of a tool which can be inserted into the slot of the head portion 24a. However, such a rotation can take place in the illustrated position in which the spring abutment 28 abuts at the collar 25, only in one direction, namely 4 for example, in the direction of arrow x1 whereas a rotation in the direction of arrow x is prevented by the collar 25. Consequently, of the over-all travel H on the part of the spring abutment 28, an adjustment can take place in this manner only over the partial stroke h, which corresponds, for example, to a movement of the pin 40 in the direction of arrow x up to the abutment at the counter-abutment 43.

If another range, for example, such a range is to be adjusted which permits a full stroke or travel of the abutment pin 40 in both directions of the arrows x, and x up to the abutments 43 and 44, for example, corresponding to the partial stroke h of a range width h, then the abutment member 38 has to be pulled off from the head portion 24a of the rotatable member 24 which is possible only by means of a corresponding tool, and thereafter the rotatable member 24 is to be screwed so far that the spring abutment 28 is adjusted in the axial direction by the desired stroke h, on the thread 27 of the rotatable member 24. Thereafter, the abutment member 38 is again mounted over the serrations 37 of the head portion 24a and is automatically secured by the springy ring 39. In this manner, the adjustment of the spring tension and therewith the release force of the front jaw 13 can be adjusted to the individually most advantageous adjusting range of the skier with an adjusting range h, which range adjustment takes place normally by the dealer.

The adjustment to different adjusting ranges is inaccessible to the skier himself. He can rotate only the rotatable member 24, and more particularly in a simple and convenient manner with or without tools, through an angle of rotation determined by the abutment 40 and the counter-abutments 43 and 44, which amounts in the illustrated embodiment to somewhat less than 360 and corresponds to a stroke h of the spring abutment 28. However, this angle suffices in order to enable to the skier a most favorable adjustment of his own depending on the running conditions, without the danger that a bone fracture might be caused by a false adjustment of the adjusting range and therewith of the spring tension.

In lieu of realizing the range adjustment by the serrations 37 between the abutment member 38 and the rotatable member 24, it is also possible to provide a corresponding adjustability between the closure member 23a serving as counter-abutment and the support por tion 13 of the front jaw. This connection between these two parts can then also take place by serrations and a springy ring.

As can be further seen from FIG. 1, a spring stress adjustment of only the outer spring 20 takes place whereas the inner. spring 21 remains uninfluenced thereby.

Another modified embodiment for the abutment member is illustrated in FIG. 4. The abutment member 138 of this figure which is again provided on its inner side with serrations 137 is stamped out, for example, out of sheet metal and includes a bent-off extension which as abutment has the function of the abutment pin 40. The extension 140 may again project into a recess or aperture of the counter-abutment member which corresponds to the recess 41 of the counterabutment or closure member 23a.

As a result of the more or less disk-shaped construction of the parts 38 or 138 and 230, a very short structural length can be attained.

cations as are encompassed by the scope of the-appended claims.

What I claim is: I

1. An adjusting mechanism for retaining spring means of safety ski bindings, which comprises a spring abutment adjustable by a rotatable means and which is operable to change the adjusting range of the spring abutment adjustable by the skier, characterized by abutment means on said rotatable means, said abutment means being adjustable by the skier relative to a support member within an adjusting range limited by counter-abutment means, one of the two parts consisting of the abutment means together with the rotatable means or of a counter-abutment member provided with the counter-abutment means being adjustable with respect tothe supportmember byv additional adjusting means, said spring abutment being secured against rotation relative to the support member, said rotatable means being secured against axial displacement, and said spring abutment being axially displaceably arranged with respect to said rotatable means by threaded means.- I r 2. An adjusting mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the spring abutment means is connected with indicating means for indicating the spring tension.

3 An adjusting mechanism according to claim 1,

characterized in that the rotatable means carries said abutment means.

4. An adjusting mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that said rotatable means includes said abutment means.

5. An adjusting mechanism according to claim 11, characterized in that said additional adjusting means are normally inaccessible.

6. An adjusting mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the abutment means is adjustably 11. An adjusting mechanism according to claim 8, characterized in that the one abutment part and the other abutment part, forming a counter abutment member, are arranged axially adjacent one another and the projection means engaged axially into the recess.

12. An adjusting mechanism according to claim 11, characterized in that the abutment means is constructed as disk with lug means bent out of the plane thereof and serving as abutment.

13. An adjusting mechanism according to claim 11,

- characterized in that an abutment pin arranged at the connected with the rotatablemeans by toothed means forming the additional adjusting means.

7. An adjusting mechanism according to claim 6, characterized in that said toothed means are-formed by axially extending serrations.

8. An adjusting mechanism according to claim 6,

characterized in that said one part and said support membertconstitute abutment parts which are adjustable relative to one another in the direction of rotation within said limited adjusting range, one of said abutment parts including at least one projection means as abutment and the other of saidabutment parts being provided with a recess extending nearly over its circumference into which engages the projection means and whose ends form counter-abutments.

9. An adjusting mechanism according to claim 8, characterized in that said one abutment part includes two projection means.

10. An adjusting mechanism according to claim 8, characterized in that said one abutment part is the abutment means and said other abutment part is the support member.

abutment means is provided as abutment.

14. An adjusting mechanism according to claim 11, characterized in that the abutment means is axially secured on the rotatable means by a springy ring, which rotatable means itself is adjustably connected with the abutment means by which is secured against rotation with respect thereto by the toothed means.

15. An adjusting mechanism according to claim 14, characterized in that the rotatable means secured against axial displacement is constructed at the same time as axial support of an additionalretaining spring means.

16. An adjusting mechanism according to claim 15, characterized in that said-additional retaining spring means is non-adjustable.

17. An adjusting mechanism according to claim 16,

characterized in that said additional adjusting means are normally inaccessible. 18. An adjusting mechanism according to claim 17, characterized in that the spring abutment means is connected withindicating means for indicating the spring tension. 1

19. An adjusting mechanism according to claim 18, characterized in that the abutment means is constructed as disk with lug means bent out of the plane thereof and serving as abutment.

20. An adjusting mechanism according to claim 18, characterized in that an abutment pin arranged at the abutment means is provided as abutment.

21. An adjusting mechanism according to claim 18, characterized in that said toothed means are formed by axially extending serrations.

22. An adjusting mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that said one part and said support member constitute abutment parts which are adjustable relative to one another in the direction of rotation within said limited adjusting range, one of said abutment parts including at least one projection means as abutment and the other of said abutment parts being provided with a recess extending nearly over its circumference into'which engages the projection means and whose ends form counter-abutments.

23. An adjusting mechanism according to claim 22, characterized in that said one abutment part is the abutment means and said other abutment part is the support member. I

24. An adjusting mechanism according to claim 23, characterized in that the one abutment part and the other abutment part, forming a counter abutment member, are arranged axially adjacent one another and the projection means engaged axially into the recess.

28. An adjusting mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the rotatable means secured against axial displacement is constructed at the same time as axial support of an additional retaining spring means.

29. An adjusting mechanism according to claim 28, characterized in that said additional retaining spring means is non-adjustable. 

1. An adjusting mechanism for retaining spring means of safety ski bindings, which comprises a spring abutment adjustable by a rotatable means and which is operable to change the adjusting range of the spring abutment adjustable by the skier, characterized by abutment means on said rotatable means, said abutment means being adjustable by the skier relative to a support member within an adjusting range limited by counterabutment means, one of tHe two parts consisting of the abutment means together with the rotatable means or of a counter-abutment member provided with the counter-abutment means being adjustable with respect to the support member by additional adjusting means, said spring abutment being secured against rotation relative to the support member, said rotatable means being secured against axial displacement, and said spring abutment being axially displaceably arranged with respect to said rotatable means by threaded means.
 2. An adjusting mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the spring abutment means is connected with indicating means for indicating the spring tension.
 3. An adjusting mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the rotatable means carries said abutment means.
 4. An adjusting mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that said rotatable means includes said abutment means.
 5. An adjusting mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that said additional adjusting means are normally inaccessible.
 6. An adjusting mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the abutment means is adjustably connected with the rotatable means by toothed means forming the additional adjusting means.
 7. An adjusting mechanism according to claim 6, characterized in that said toothed means are formed by axially extending serrations.
 8. An adjusting mechanism according to claim 6, characterized in that said one part and said support member constitute abutment parts which are adjustable relative to one another in the direction of rotation within said limited adjusting range, one of said abutment parts including at least one projection means as abutment and the other of said abutment parts being provided with a recess extending nearly over its circumference into which engages the projection means and whose ends form counter-abutments.
 9. An adjusting mechanism according to claim 8, characterized in that said one abutment part includes two projection means.
 10. An adjusting mechanism according to claim 8, characterized in that said one abutment part is the abutment means and said other abutment part is the support member.
 11. An adjusting mechanism according to claim 8, characterized in that the one abutment part and the other abutment part, forming a counter abutment member, are arranged axially adjacent one another and the projection means engaged axially into the recess.
 12. An adjusting mechanism according to claim 11, characterized in that the abutment means is constructed as disk with lug means bent out of the plane thereof and serving as abutment.
 13. An adjusting mechanism according to claim 11, characterized in that an abutment pin arranged at the abutment means is provided as abutment.
 14. An adjusting mechanism according to claim 11, characterized in that the abutment means is axially secured on the rotatable means by a springy ring, which rotatable means itself is adjustably connected with the abutment means by which is secured against rotation with respect thereto by the toothed means.
 15. An adjusting mechanism according to claim 14, characterized in that the rotatable means secured against axial displacement is constructed at the same time as axial support of an additional retaining spring means.
 16. An adjusting mechanism according to claim 15, characterized in that said additional retaining spring means is non-adjustable.
 17. An adjusting mechanism according to claim 16, characterized in that said additional adjusting means are normally inaccessible.
 18. An adjusting mechanism according to claim 17, characterized in that the spring abutment means is connected with indicating means for indicating the spring tension.
 19. An adjusting mechanism according to claim 18, characterized in that the abutment means is constructed as disk with lug means bent out of the plane thereof and serving as abutment.
 20. An adjusting mechanism according to claim 18, characterized in that an abutment pin arranged at the Abutment means is provided as abutment.
 21. An adjusting mechanism according to claim 18, characterized in that said toothed means are formed by axially extending serrations.
 22. An adjusting mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that said one part and said support member constitute abutment parts which are adjustable relative to one another in the direction of rotation within said limited adjusting range, one of said abutment parts including at least one projection means as abutment and the other of said abutment parts being provided with a recess extending nearly over its circumference into which engages the projection means and whose ends form counter-abutments.
 23. An adjusting mechanism according to claim 22, characterized in that said one abutment part is the abutment means and said other abutment part is the support member.
 24. An adjusting mechanism according to claim 23, characterized in that the one abutment part and the other abutment part, forming a counter abutment member, are arranged axially adjacent one another and the projection means engaged axially into the recess.
 25. An adjusting mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the abutment means is constructed as disk with lug means bent out of the plane thereof and serving as abutment.
 26. An adjusting mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that an abutment pin arranged at the abutment means is provided as abutment.
 27. An adjusting mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the abutment means is axially secured on the rotatable means by a springy ring, which rotatable means itself is adjustably connected with the abutment means but which is secured against rotation with respect thereto by toothed means.
 28. An adjusting mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the rotatable means secured against axial displacement is constructed at the same time as axial support of an additional retaining spring means.
 29. An adjusting mechanism according to claim 28, characterized in that said additional retaining spring means is non-adjustable. 